Girl Scouts Permitted to Sell Cookies Outside Marijuana Shops in the US
In recent years, several media outlets have reported instances where Girl Scouts set up cookie stands outside recreational marijuana dispensaries in the United States. While this marketing tactic helped the scouts sell out their entire stock in just a few hours—rather than several days—such cases remained rare, even as legalization expanded across the country. The reason? The Girl Scouts organization had formally prohibited members from selling cookies in front of such establishments.
Earlier this week, the Girl Scouts leadership published a new version of the organization’s bylaws, which no longer include restrictions against selling cookies outside “businesses that do not serve underage customers.” This change now allows scouts in Colorado and California to legally sell their cookies directly in front of marijuana dispensaries. In addition to dispensaries, scouts can now sell their products outside other adult-only businesses, such as bars and tattoo parlors.
“According to the new bylaws, the organization will no longer categorize locations for cookie sales,” Anna-Marie Parker, a representative of the Colorado Girl Scouts Council, told the Denver Post. “To set up a cookie booth outside a marijuana shop, a scout simply needs to inform their troop leaders of the location and follow all the behavior and safety guidelines outlined in the bylaws. Our only concern is the safety of the scouts themselves. If a leader sees no potential health risk in setting up near a marijuana dispensary, they may allow it at their own discretion.”
Ms. Parker clarified that regional councils have already approved cookie sales at certain adult-only venues. However, as of now, only two regional councils—in Colorado and California—have permitted cookie sales outside marijuana dispensaries. Girl Scout representatives in other regions are not yet allowing scouts to sell cookies at such locations.
Recent Example in San Diego
Last month, a Girl Scout in San Diego made headlines for selling cookies outside the URBN Leaf marijuana dispensary. Employees at the dispensary supported her entrepreneurial spirit by posting a photo of her and her cookie booth on the store’s official Instagram account.
“Girls choose their own routes or locations for selling cookies, after discussing their choices with their parents and troop leaders,” said Dana Allen, a representative of the California Girl Scouts regional office. “If the family agrees that a location is safe for their child, we cannot dispute that decision. It’s also important to note that these types of businesses are legal and regulated, and are typically located in safe, well-maintained areas of the city.”
A Charitable Enterprise
In addition to being popular among marijuana enthusiasts due to their wide variety of flavors, Girl Scout cookies are also sold near dispensaries for humanitarian reasons. Every year, Girl Scouts across the country sell more than 200 million boxes of cookies, generating about $1 billion in revenue for regional councils. Part of this revenue goes directly to supporting the scouts’ organizational needs, while the other half funds various charitable and social programs aimed at helping underprivileged children and supporting public education systems. In other words, every dollar spent on Girl Scout cookies goes to help children in need, rather than to a large private corporation.